Dog Diabetes Signs, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Dog diabetes is a relatively common dog health issue that all too often goes undetected until an emergency occurs. While only about 1 in 500 dogs are diagnosed, some estimates show that as many as 1 in 100 dogs have it.

Either way, it is becoming more common, possibly as a result of the increase in canine obesity.

What are the Main Dog Diabetes Signs and Symptoms?

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The signs and symptoms of dog diabetes may not always be obvious or consistently visible, which is the main reason it often goes unnoticed in many dogs.

The primary symptoms that are seen in most (not every) dog with diabetes include:

Cataracts – a condition of the eyes where clouding develops in the lens of the eye causing near-sightedness and eventual vision loss if left untreated

Lethargy – consistent laziness and lack of interest in exercise and play

Polydipsia – excessive water consumption – dogs with diabetes drink too much water because of their body’s over production of glucose or because the glucose can’t be metabolized by the body properly

Polyuria – excessive urination

Weight gain – many dogs who have diabetes often lack energy and this inactivity can result in weight gain

Weight loss – weight loss caused by dog diabetes can be excessive, may go in spurts or may be more gradual in nature. Weight loss is a result of the breakdown of fats and muscle in order to make glucose and ketones in the liver.

If you have noticed any of the above symptoms combined in your dog, it is best to have your dog tested for diabetes.

What is dog diabetes and is it the same as diabetes in humans?

A high-level knowledge of human diabetes and the associated insulin injections is common, but do you understand the specific differences between a diabetic and a non-diabetic in terms of body processes?

Understanding how diabetes affects the functioning of our own bodies will in turn explain how it affects our dogs… since the process works exactly the same in both.

According to veterinary diabetes expert, Peter A. Graham, BVMS, PhD, diabetes functions in the following way:

“Diabetes Mellitus is a group of conditions in which there is a deficiency of the hormone insulin or an insensitivity to it. Insulin is produced in the islet cells of the pancreas and is normally responsible for controlling blood concentrations of the body's main fuel, glucose.

In normal animals, insulin does this by preventing glucose production by the liver and ensuring that excess glucose derived from food which is not needed for energy is put into body stores.

In a diabetic animal there is insufficient insulin to switch off glucose production by the liver or to efficiently store excess glucose derived from energy giving foods. This means that the blood concentration of glucose rises and eventually exceeds a level beyond which the kidneys let glucose leak into the urine.

This loss of glucose in urine takes water with it by a process called osmosis and causes larger volumes of urine to be produced than normal.”

This process produces a number of correlating symptoms including excessive thirst and urination and is most commonly controlled by the administration of daily insulin injections along with a controlled diet.

With proper care, diabetes can be controlled and is rarely the sole cause of death in canines or humans.

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While it is not possible to cure dog diabetes with medication, it is very possible to manage the diabetes with insulin injections and proper stabilization. Most dogs who are diagnosed as diabetic can lead very normal and happy lives once the condition is under control.

Why do insulin injections help control diabetes?

To better understand why insulin shots are necessary, here’s a quick run-down of what happens after a dog with diabetes eats a meal:

After the meal is eaten, the dog’s body breaks down the food into glucose and other nutrients, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream through the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the glucose level in the dog’s body rises after a meal and in turn, triggers the pancreas to produce the hormone insulin to be released into the bloodstream.

But in the body of a dog with diabetes, insulin is not produced properly. Without insulin, the glucose can’t get into the cells. As a result, the glucose stays in the blood stream leading to high blood sugar levels that can cause of a number of health issues.

Insulin injections are needed to supply the body with an adequate amount of insulin to finish the digestive process and maintain the body’s blood glucose levels.

There are a few different types of insulin injections that can be prescribed for a diabetes in dogs and some of the longer lasting insulin shots require administration only once daily.

What is stabilization and why is it necessary?

In order to ensure that a diabetic dog’s blood glucose levels remain healthy, it is vitally important to maintain all of the other factors, other than insulin, that affect glucose levels on a daily basis. These factors include:

Composition of food – Dogs with diabetes need to eat a very healthy and well-rounded diet full of good protein and all necessary vitamins and minerals. The quality of your dog food plays a huge role in the health and well-being of the animal.

Amount of food – It is also important to control the amount of food the diabetic dog eats at each meal, making sure to keep the amount exactly the same with each feeding.

Timing of feedings – The diabetic dog should eat at the same time every day to help ensure proper digestion.

Exercise – Controlling the amount of exercise a diabetic dog gets in also very important. Keeping the amount of exercise and the times of exercise constant each day will be beneficial.

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Disclaimers: The information contained in this web site is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as nor should be relied upon as medical advice. Rather, it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a pet owner/site visitor and his/her local veterinarian(s). Before you use any of the information provided in the site, you should seek the advice of a qualified professional.

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Disclaimers: The information contained in this web site is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as nor should be relied upon as medical advice. Rather, it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a pet owner/site visitor and his/her local veterinarian(s). Before you use any of the information provided in the site, you should seek the advice of a qualified professional.

In the spirit of full
disclosure, we wanted to let you know that we proudly support this
website through advertising and affiliate marketing. In other words,
when you click on a link that takes you outside of this website, we
often earn a small commission. These small commissions allow us to keep
the site up and running and to continue offering it completely free of
charge to you. Rest assured that all content, recommendations and
advice are created before, and are independent of, any sponsorship or
affiliate relationship. Click
here for more info.